Jimmy Kimmel
A late-night host who transformed from a radio shock jock into a sharp, politically engaged voice for a generation.
Born 1967 (age 59)·American TV host and comedian·Birthday: November 13·Generation X
Biography
Jimmy Kimmel's path to television was anything but conventional. He cut his teeth in radio, co-hosting the raucous and popular 'The Man Show' on Comedy Central, which established his persona as a brash, everyman comedian. In 2003, ABC took a chance on him with 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', a late-night show that initially struggled to find its footing. Kimmel's persistence and a willingness to evolve his style paid off. He gradually shed his purely comedic skin, embracing more substantive interviews and developing a reputation for heartfelt, often searing, monologues on American politics and healthcare, particularly after his son's birth with a heart condition. This blend of humor and earnest commentary carved out a distinct space in the crowded late-night landscape, making his show a destination for both laughs and cultural conversation. His tenure has been marked by high-profile hosting gigs at the Oscars, where his performances have been a mix of smooth charm and pointed industry ribbing.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jimmy was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jimmy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Jimmy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1980Became a teenager
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has hosted his own ABC late-night talk show, 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!', for over two decades since its 2003 debut.
- Served as host for the Academy Awards ceremony in 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024.
- Hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards telecast three times, in 2012, 2016, and 2020.
- Co-created and co-hosted Comedy Central's 'The Man Show', which became a cult hit in the late 1990s.
Did You Know?
He was the first person to utter the phrase "This is your brain on drugs" in the famous 1987 PSA, though his face was not shown.
Before fame, he worked as a radio host in Palm Springs, Florida, and Phoenix under the name Jimmy the Sports Guy.
He is a second cousin to musician Sal Iacono, who frequently appears on his show as Cousin Sal.
His show originally aired at midnight, following 'Nightline', before moving to its earlier 11:35 PM time slot.
“If you can get through the day without hurting anybody, you're doing okay.”
